Traffic & Transit
Truck Driver Killed In Explosion Along North Jersey Highway: Officials
All lanes of Route 3 remain closed near the Route 46 interchange, after a crash and explosion Monday. Drivers are asked to use other routes.
This article was last updated at 5 p.m. Monday.
CLIFTON, NJ — Officials said a truck driver died in an explosion Monday, after a fiery crash on State Route 3 in Clifton that caused evacuations and road closures.
Evening commuters are asked to seek an alternate route, as Route 3 was still closed late Monday afternoon between Grove Street and the interchange with Route 46. The ramp from the Garden State Parkway northbound onto NJ-3 is also closed, per 511nj.org.
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The Passaic County Prosecutor's Office said that the commercial truck was traveling westbound and crashed into the highway barrier Monday morning, causing it to catch fire.
After the Clifton Fire Department brought the flames under control, first responders found the body of the driver, a 55-year-old man from Linden.
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The cause of the crash is still undetermined, and officials will continue to investigate; the Prosecutor's Office did not indicate what the truck may have been hauling.
This crash was first reported at around 9:10 a.m. on Route 3, near Grove Street, and a passing driver took video showing walls of flame extending from the crash site.
A resident told News 12 New Jersey that she heard an explosion and "saw three large fireballs" from her home. Images from the scene show that the fire destroyed part of a barrier wall, and melted siding on nearby homes.
Clifton Police are recommending that travelers avoid the area, and some nearby homes were evacuated.
Nearby residents may also see some discolored water while fire crews work to put out the blaze, according to the Passaic Valley Water Commission.
"Anytime a hydrant is used, the sudden rush of water through the pipeline will stir up sediment, which can cause discolored water or low water pressure," the Water Commission noted. "We thank our customers for their patience and we also thank Clifton first responders as they work to extinguish the fire."
This is a developing story. Patch will update it as more information becomes available.
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